The Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing

Background

At the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties, in decision XI/1 Parties were called upon to initiate and expedite their internal processes leading towards ratification of the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing and it was decided that the Intergovernmental Committee for the Nagoya Protocol, at its third meeting, would exchange views on the state of implementation of the Protocol. Parties at COP-11 also highlighted the importance of capacity-building and development initiatives and awareness-raising activities to support the ratification, early entry into force and implementation of the Nagoya Protocol. In addition, Parties agreed on clear guidance to the Global Environment Facility to support the Nagoya Protocol and emphasized the importance of financial and technical support aimed at promoting ratification and implementation of the Nagoya Protocol.

The following provides information in relation to activities and steps taken by Parties towards the ratification and implementation of the Nagoya Protocol, including new measures adopted by Parties to implement the Nagoya Protocol. Parties wishing to provide information on the steps they are taking to ratify and implement the Protocol, to be included on this webpage, are invited to send such info at secretariat@cbd.int. Measures on Access and Benefit-sharing that pre-date the adoption of the Nagoya Protocol are available in the Database on ABS Measures. The list of Parties that have signed and/or ratified the Nagoya Protocol is available here.

Information sharing-events

Several information-sharing events on the Nagoya Protocol were held since its adoption to encourage exchanges between Parties with a view to supporting its early entry into force and effective implementation. The following provides a list of some of the events held:

  • The UNU Institute for Sustainability and Peace (UNU-ISP) hosted an international symposium on “Domestic Measures to Implement the Obligations under the Nagoya Protocol” on 8 March 2012 at the UNU headquarters in Tokyo. The symposium, co-organized by UNU in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Japan (MOFA), was followed on 9 March by an informal meeting on the “Effective Implementation of the Nagoya Protocol”. The presentations as well as other information related to these events is available here.
  • An informal roundtable was organized during the second meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Nagoya Protocol. The roundtable provided an opportunity for Parties to take stock and exchange informally on progress made towards ratification of the Protocol.
  • An informal dialogue was also held during the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP-11). The dialogue provided an opportunity for Parties, which have developed or are in the process of developing national ABS measures to meet their obligations under the Nagoya Protocol, to share their experiences on the steps and approaches taken in the development of these measures towards the ratification and implementation of the Nagoya Protocol. During the events, several Parties presented the work they are carrying-out to ratify the Nagoya Protocol and expressed their commitment towards the entry into force of the Protocol before COP-12.
  • In addition, the Japanese Ministry of Environment, in collaboration with the Secretariat and the European Union, organized an information sharing event on the adoption of measures by Parties as users of genetic resources in order to meet their obligations under the Nagoya Protocol (flyer). The presentations and information made available during this side event are available at the links below:

Finally, in preparation for COP-11, Parties were invited to submit information to the Secretariat on steps taken towards ratification and implementation of the Protocol, in accordance with recommendation 2/8 of the second meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee. The Executive Secretary synthesized and compiled the information received in document UNEP/CBD/COP/11/11 and UNEP/CBD/COP/11/11.

Measures on access and benefit-sharing for implementing the Nagoya Protocol

Many Parties are in the process of adopting and/or revising their measures on access and benefit-sharing following the adoption of the Protocol. The following provides some of the measures developed. It should be noted that many are still in draft form and have not yet entered into force. ABS measures that pre-date the Nagoya Protocol are available in the Database on ABS Measures.